College baseball is in full gear at this point and some high schools are more than a few games into their seasons in warmer parts of the country. The Cincinnati Reds will be selecting 2nd overall for the second consecutive season in the Major League Baseball draft. Let’s take a look at how the top draft prospects performed over the last week.
The Pitchers
J.B. Bukauskas | RHP | North Carolina
The right hander Bukauskas had his worst start of the year. That speaks to just how good he’s been to start the season. Taking on Long Beach State he allowed one earned run over 7.0 innings. He allowed six hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. On the season he’s now thrown 20.0 innings with 1 earned run allowed, three walks and he has 30 strikeouts. He was reportedly 94-97 MPH with an upper 80’s slider in the outing.
Alex Faedo | RHP | Florida
On Friday Florida took on Columbia and Alex Faedo was dominant for the Gators. The right hander threw 7.0 shutout innings. He allowed just two hits and two walks in the game. He also added in nine strikeouts on just 79 pitches. In three starts this season Faedo has a 1.77 ERA in 20.1 innings. He’s allowed just eight hits and six walks to go with 24 strikeouts.
Tanner Houck | RHP | Missouri
After two poor starts to begin the year, Tanner Houck got the ship going in the right direction on Friday. Taking on Illinois-Chicago he didn’t allow an earned run in 6.0 innings. The right hander didn’t walk a batter and had seven strikeouts. On the season his ERA is 4.50 in 16.0 innings with five walks, 18 hits allowed and 21 strikeouts.
Alex Lange | RHP | LSU
With two outstanding starts under his belt a real test came in start number three. The right hander faced off against top ranked TCU and things did not go well. The Horned Frogs roughed Lange up for six earned in 1.2 innings. Lange walked three batters and had two strikeouts. Baseball America reports that Lange was struggling to control his low 90’s fastball.
Brendan McKay | LHP | Louisville
Brendan McKay didn’t pitch this week as he was shut down on the mound with an abdominal strain. It’s not expected to lead to much time away from the mound. He was still able to play in the field this week.
Kyle Wright | RHP | Vanderbilt
Wright had some struggles against Cal State Northridge on Friday. He allowed three earned (five total) in 5.0 innings. He walked two batter, threw two wild pitches while striking out eight. On the season he’s posted a 3.94 ERA in three games with 17 strikeouts and five walks in 16.0 innings.
The Hitters
Jeren Kendall | OF | Vanderbilt
It was an interesting week for Kendall. He was moved around the lineup for Vandy, batting 2nd, 3rd and 4th throughout the week. He played in five games. Against Southeastern Louisianna on the final day of February the outfielder went 3-4 with two home runs. The next day he went 0-3 with a strikeout. Over the next three days he’d play against Cal State Northridge and go 3-11 with three walks and two strikeouts. He would also add a home run and a double. For the season he’s at .275/.362/.627 with seven walks and 15 strikeouts in 59 plate appearances.
Brendan McKay | 1B | Louisville
While he may have missed out on the start from the mound this week, he was able to play in three games in the field. Against Morehead State and Eastern Michigan, McKay went 5-8 with a triple, home run, walk and two strikeouts. To say he’s out to a great start is an understatement. The first baseman is hitting .621/.683/1.138 with twice as many walks as strikeouts.